Fire and reign: Peculiar performers handle the heat

Fire dancers and aerial acrobats will perform on Saturday, June 17 at Big's Bar. Food and Entertainment reporter Alexa Giebink gives an inside look on the preparation before the event.

For a night of amusement rivaling the spectacle of Las Vegas, look no further than Bigs Bar in Sioux Falls on Saturday. Last Ember Entertainment is presenting Summer Solstice, an evening of peculiar performers.

Shawn Knudson holds his fire weapons close to his body with practiced expertise during his fire ...more

Shawn Knudson holds his fire weapons close to his body with practiced expertise during his fire performance.

Shanya Burt

“It’s kind of my way to show people what is really going on inside of me," said Shawn Knudson, a fire performer and founder of Last Ember. "I can just show people who I really am in those four to five minutes.”

From the moment Knudson first felt the heat licking up the torches and threatening his forearms, he was addicted.

Last Ember Entertainment begin their performance of fire dancing, each one showing off his or her ...more

Last Ember Entertainment begin their performance of fire dancing, each one showing off his or her tricks.

Shanya Burt

“I was at a point in my life where I wanted to try new things and it just stuck with me," said Knudson, who has graduated to fire eating. "Here I am nine years later."

Fire performing and aerial silks are just two forms of flow art. The flow arts include a variety of movement-based art forms usually integrating dance and a prop, such as fire torches, aerial silks and hula hoops.

The various specialties of flow art incorporate aspects of other performing arts, including yoga, martial arts and belly dancing.

Knudson and his crew use an assortment of tools for fire performing. The team typically utilizes martial arts weapons and traditional Islander training utensils such as poi.

Despite having different disciplines, those in the circus arts make up a close-knit community in Sioux Falls.

On Saturday night, the slow elegance of the ladies from Cirque Dakota will offer a nice contrast to the flashy and in-your-face style of Last Ember.

Cirque Dakota is an aerial arts gym in Sioux Falls that teaches circus arts classes. Students often start with basic flexibility, working up to aerial silks and acroyoga.

Mary Wieczorek does the splits mid-air in preparation for her performance for Cirque Dakota.

Mary Wieczorek does the splits mid-air in preparation for her performance for Cirque Dakota.

Shanya Burt

“Everyone is always thinking, ‘Oh I couldn’t do that, I don’t have the upper body strength,'" said Ellen Davis, founder of Cirque Dakota. "It does take upper body strength and a lot of core, but that said, that’s what the classes are for. You gain it as you go."

All levels and ages are welcome to attend the classes offered by Davis weekly. In her gym, she has had students as young as 3 years and as old as 69.

To ensure a positive experience, Knudson and Davis emphasize safety above all else. Cirque Dakota acrobats first practice their stunts low to the ground before climbing the silk ribbons, each of which can hold up to 2,000 pounds.

Last Ember also takes precautions, designating a safety person equipped with fire extinguishers and blankets. Still, the risk of bodily harm is always present. Knudson warns against fooling around with fire unless you have received the proper training.

“I mean, you play with fire, there’s a very good chance you will get burned," he said.

You can catch these fearless men and women at Bigs Bar on Saturday at 9 p.m.

If you have an event or story idea that fits into the Sioux Falls dining or entertainment theme, Alexa Giebink can be reached at agiebink@argusleader.com. Follow her on twitter @ArgusAGiebink